Less than half of middle and high school students think teachers care about their problems and feelings, and less than a third think teachers make school exciting, according to massive national survey
released today.

The "My Voice" report also found that 47 percent of students think school is boring, with far more boys saying so than girls.

The survey was conducted between fall 2006 and spring 2008 by the Pearson education company and the Quaglia Institute. The results are based on the responses of 414,000 students in 569 middle and high schools in 32 states.

They show that "while teachers have the potential to inspire students, they are not doing so in ways that students recognize," survey founder Russell J. Quaglia said in a press release.

The survey found gaps between boys and girls. While 43 percent of girls
agreed that school is boring, 52 percent of boys did. Ninety-one percent of
girls agreed that going to college is important, while 82 percent of boys
did.

The survey also found that students feel less positive about schools and
teachers as they get older. Forty-one percent of middle schoolers
surveyed said teachers make school an exciting place to learn, but only
28 percent of high schoolers did. Asked if their classes help them
understand what's happening in everyday life, 46 percent of middle
schoolers said yes, compared to 36 percent of high schoolers.

The report concludes: "It is naive and ignorant to expect students to
say in school, let alone graduate and take the next steps toward
reaching their fullest potential, if every year they are in school they
feel less supported, less connected and less inspired to learn."

Ron Matus, state education reporter

*